Fishing in a Storm

[FIN-S-R]

This weekend I had a tourney that was postponed about an hour due to highwind and about 3" of rain in just a short period of time. Afterward it got fairly calm, but still rained for a while. I was throwin' cranks for the most part and caught a gob of dinks, but couldnt spark many bites from "keeper" size fish...What do you guys throw in a post storm murkey water conditions to garner bites from better fish. (Tourney won rippin vibes on grass edges).

[senko_77]

A large ammount of water like what you said in a short time can send the fish into "shock"  A flash flood flips there enviroment upside down in an instant and quick changes in the enviroment can send the fish running for awhile.  Seems like the bigger fish were affected but not the little ones.  In my experience, when the fish are in "shock", they hunker donw deep in grass, sit as deep as they can in brush piles ect.  Kinda think like if there were a tornado coming for your house.  You would get in the most protected area in the middle.  So bass are the same way.  All the sudden a massive ammount of highly oxygenated water is dumped in and the fast change scares them.  Puttin a heavy jig in the grass and brushpiles is probably what you have to do.  Throw it in, shake it a few times, then reel in and cast to a different part of the grass or other structure because your basically gonna have to put the jig right on the fish's head.  Hope this helps

[Guest avid]

This is definitly a "do what I say, not what I do" situation.

When there is a storm with lightning - get off the water RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That being said, here in SE florida sudden, powerful thunderstorms can blow up literally out of nowhere.  You get a few minutes warning, but often that coincides with the bite turning on.   I believe the fish are triggered into action becasue of the rapidly changing barometric and light conditions.

I will fast moving baits in this situation. cranks, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, prop baits.

First because they work

second because I know I"m being an idiot and will run like hell for shore if the lightning starts to get hairy.  I also dont like fishing in the torrential downpours so that will get me off the water.  I happen to live directly east of the northern tip of Lake Okeechobee.  I can see the monsoon coming and will skeedaddle faster than you can say " Gawd. pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze don't let me die"  

[Valascus]

I don't fish in a storm at all. Period. If I hear thunder or see lightening I am gone and usually very irritated at having to cut the trip short. But, I would rather cut the trip short and live to fish another day than get fried by lightening. As far as rain goes, I will fish in that no problem to a point. A drizzle, sure. Steady rain, okay. Moderately heavy, annoyed, but will continue. Pouring freakin' buckets...not so much...I am seeking some drier shelter until it slows up.

[cart7t]

Post storm murky water?

I immediately start cruising and looking for any inflows of water washing all nature of new food into the lake and go from there.  Large, colorado bladed spinnerbaits in sharp contrasting colors like chartreuse and black work. I'll often toss those with colored blades.  Large shallow - med diving crankbaits with rattles are also good.  

Look for an "edge" between the dirty inflowing water and the clearer lake water. Also look for the edges of the current where the waters coming in and look for any eddies.

[Peter E.]

To be honest when I fish in a storm I say to my self, "self what are you doing? is that a graphite rod in your hands?"

I answer myself saying yessir

I ask myself, "self is that line still in the water?"

I answer my self saying yessir.

I ask myself, "self are you still standing in that aluminum john boat?"

I answer myself saying yessir

I ask myself, "self have you seen the Caddy Shack?"

I answer myself saying yessir.

I ask myself, "self, Do yo want to end up like the preacher?"

Now by about this point I take myself to the bank until things cool down a bit. Besides if I try to argue with myself I always lose!  

[BASS fisherman]

I love fishing in the rain.  I like fishing in pouring rain too, but not during lightning.  I have fished during a lightning storm, but I peed myself a couple times in the process.

[NJfishinGuy]

ive done some rain fishing this year and love it now with my new frogg toggs, but after a storm i usually never do good especially when its muddy

[fishbear]

Love fishing in the rain.  light rain or downpour.... it is invigorating...

Now standing in a metal boat on the water holding a 7' lightning rod in my hand, when the light show is going on, THAT MY FRIENDS is a different story.  If I can not make the boat launch, I will beach the boat where it is safe, and get out of it, and find cover until the thunder and lightning gods are thru playing around, then I go back to fishing.

[Brian_Reeves]

Deadstick a brush hog on a standup jighead next to grass, laydowns, timber or logs.  It's slow, boring, and taxing on your mind, but it does pay off.

[orey10m]

yea, good advice guys :-/he doesn't want to know whether or not to get off the water during the storm, he wants to know what to try fishing after the storm. i second what cart7 said.